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Batch thinks Steelers might groom Landry Jones to replace Ben

Batch thinks Steelers might groom Jones to replace Roethlisberger

Posted by Mike Florio on April 29, 2013

With the arrival of quarterback Bruce Gradkowski via free agency and quarterback Landry Jones via the fourth round of the 2013 draft, it’s highly unlikely that Charlie Batch’s 11-year run with the team will continue.

So Batch can speak his mind. That’s precisely what he did regarding the team’s decision to draft Jones.

“Ultimately, I think this isn’t about replacing me,” Batch told Ron Cook of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “Big picture, maybe they’re thinking, ‘Can we develop Landry Jones to be the starter? Maybe two years from now, he could be our guy for the next 10 years.’ We don’t know. But with the contracts for quarterbacks these days, he’d certainly be a heck of a lot cheaper than Ben at age 34 or 35 or 36.”

Batch has a point, to an extent.. As quarterback cap numbers grow while the salary cap doesn’t, it’s getting harder to build a team around the guy who throws the ball.

Still, G.M. Kevin Colbert didn’t sound like a guy who is thinking about moving on from Roethlisberger during last week’s visit to PFT Live.

“You look at the great quarterbacks, Peyton Manning and Tom Brady, they’re in their mid-30s, and Ben’s just 31,” Colbert said. “We think there’s a lot of football and we hope there’s a lot of football left in him, and hopefully it’s even better than he’s been for us. It’s our job to maximize these years that he has left, and we really think that he has a nice stretch in him.”

Of course, no one would expect the Steelers to declare an intention to go cheaper and younger at quarterback without knowing that they have someone who would be as good if not better than Ben. But if Jones shows the organization enough in the next two or three years, maybe Batch’s suspicions will be proven right.

not sure how this writer can come to the conclusion that this was a wasted pick no matter what. what about if Landry Jones develops into our next frachise QB?

The Steel Mill

Instant Analysis (LANDRY JONES)

April 27th, 2013

The Steelers haven’t selected a quarterback as high as Landry Jones since they took Ben Roethlisberger with the 11th overall pick in the 2004 draft.

Jones marks just the third quarterback — Omar Jacobs and Dennis Dixon — since the Steelers selected Roethlisberger when they drafted the Oklahoma quarterback with the 115th pick (fourth round) on Saturday.

“I am going to come in and compete as hard as I can and try to win the job,” Jones said. “At the end of the day this is going to be a great opportunity for me whether I play quick or whether I have to sit and wait a couple years.”

The Steelers felt that they needed to get younger at the position and that’s what they accomplished over the past few months. They replaced 33-year-old Byron Leftwich and 38-year-old Charlie Batch with 24-year-old Jones and 30-year-old Bruce Gradkowski (signed as free agent).

“It was just time to start grooming a young player, to freshen up the room, if you will,” quarterback coach Randy Fichtner said. “This now gives Ben an opportunity to share his experiences and that’s an exciting time.”

When it comes to the Jones pick, that’s the only benefit I see in it is that they got younger.

A fourth round pick is a pretty hefty price to pay for a guy that you HOPE never plays. And if he does play, you are probably not going to be a contender for the Super Bowl anyways.

With a team that has so many needs like inside linebacker, tight end, corner and even another receiver, it feels like a wasted opportunity to address one of those needs with a quarterback in the fourth round.

To me, it would’ve made more sense to wait a year on the quarterback and use an influx of possible compensatory picks next year to be able to address a position that isn’t an immediate need.

Instant analysis: Wasted pick even if he does turn out to be good down the road. Other issues needed to be addressed before addressing a backup quarterback.

The Steelers are doing what they believe is best for the team and I don't know what all the angst for drafting Jones is all about. If he turns into a franchise quarterback, great, if he's a career backup, that's great as well, because he'll be here for the rest of Ben's HOF career and the Steelers don't have to worry about a backup. If he develops and Ben continues to play HOF caliber football then the Steelers can trade him for a player they need or draft picks.

I think all the hubbub about us drafting a QB in the 4th to be just stupid. The Giants did the exact same thing in the exact same round. Do you really think they would replace Eli? Hell no! It is just a smart football decision. We need a reliable backup for Ben so we went out and got one. End of story.

The QB is the most important position on the field, and given the amount of games that Ben misses, an investment in a backup is wise. I don't question the use of a 4th round pick on a QB, but I do question the Steelers selection a bit. I was not a big fan of Jones as a QB, but I wish him the best.

Best case is he either turns into a really good backup or a Matt Schaub type situation presents itself, and the Steelers trade him for a healthy return. Worst case is that he's a bust, but he wouldn't be the first fourth round bust selected by the Steelers (Fred Gibson and Orien Harris spring to mind).

The QB is the most important position on the field, and given the amount of games that Ben misses, an investment in a backup is wise. I don't question the use of a 4th round pick on a QB, but I do question the Steelers selection a bit. I was not a big fan of Jones as a QB, but I wish him the best.

Best case is he either turns into a really good backup or a Matt Schaub type situation presents itself, and the Steelers trade him for a healthy return. Worst case is that he's a bust, but he wouldn't be the first fourth round bust selected by the Steelers (Fred Gibson and Orien Harris spring to mind).

Jones is going to surpise you. Plan to be happy. I think we got the best QB in the draft. Oklahoma didn't help him the last couple of seasons forcing the ball down the field. Haley can groom him for the offense and he is going to thrive.

Playing Fantasy Football does not qualify you to be the in the front office or on the coaching staff of the Pittsburgh Steelers. They are professionals and you are not!

Jones is going to surpise you. Plan to be happy. I think we got the best QB in the draft. Oklahoma didn't help him the last couple of seasons forcing the ball down the field. Haley can groom him for the offense and he is going to thrive.

Bill Polian agrees with you. I think he is going to be an above average QB in the NFL. and one way or the other he is going to net a great return for the Steelers.

Jones is going to surpise you. Plan to be happy. I think we got the best QB in the draft. Oklahoma didn't help him the last couple of seasons forcing the ball down the field. Haley can groom him for the offense and he is going to thrive.

I would love nothing more than to be wrong about my initial assessment of Jones.

Jones is going to surpise you. Plan to be happy. I think we got the best QB in the draft. Oklahoma didn't help him the last couple of seasons forcing the ball down the field. Haley can groom him for the offense and he is going to thrive.

Ovi, I agree completely, 100%. I also think we got the best QB in the draft - albiet an average class compared the the last few. What we hope happens is we don't have to use him any time soon and he has a couple of seasons to sit, learn and eliminate any bad habits. Ideally, he becomes our Aaron Rodgers who sits, is groomed and in 3 or 4 seasons, he's seen it all.

On the other article, why a guy would say a 4th round QB is a waste apparently doesn't remember the Pats taking Brady to sit behind Bledsoe... I get that it's a guy you hope doesn't play, but, if you believe his talent is worth it, you spend the 4th. Can't imagine the guy saying "#3 TE is more important than having a potential heir apparent at QB... Who allows these idiots to put this crap out there...

Honestly, I hope manny sanders outperforms anything Wallace ever did and Markus "Chuck E" Wheaton doesn't have to play. But, the reality is, you want good players behind starters, so you can continue the next man up philosophy.

He said, "And if he does play, you are probably not going to be a contender for the Super Bowl anyways." Again, was Tom Brady replacing Bledsoe that long ago that we all forget that it IS possible for a mid-to-late round QB to actually succeed in this league? He must be like 12.

Am I calling Landry the next Tom Brady? Nope. Just saying "that's why they play the game". Let's see the kid play before we cut him...